http://www.bnet.com/5799-13610-0.html?type=18 Blog Recent Discussion Activity http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/11/03/usocial-eyeballs-for-sale/#18336_92090 Hi Joanna,<br><br>I didn't raise the issue with them. I had received nothing but poor communication up to that point (it took over a month and lots of emails to get the campaign started), so I couldn't be bothered any further. I got the feeling that 'usocial' is a couple of teenage friends who have set-up in their parent's garage and can't quite believe their own luck. usocial is a triumph of social marketing / social PR - I'd kill for the coverage they have enjoyed.<br><br>I'm just starting out and trying to sell holidays at the moment but happy to talk further.<br><br>Many thanks,<br>Tim<br><br><br> Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:34:40 GMT http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/11/03/usocial-eyeballs-for-sale/#18336_92090 2009-11-23T15:34:40Z http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/11/22/managers-a-barrier-to-good-jobs/#19005_92046 I completely agree with the statement. Poor managers prevent capable people progressing in a business. My first ever manager 35 years ago said he would not stand in my way when I wanted to progress, he was a dying breed but one I respected and copied in my approach. I am pleased to say having developed people for many years I see a lot who have worked with me progress to senior posts. Sadly today there are not capable managers willing to make a decision and stand or fall by their decision there is too much politics.<br> Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:09:24 GMT http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/11/22/managers-a-barrier-to-good-jobs/#19005_92046 2009-11-23T14:09:24Z http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/11/22/managers-a-barrier-to-good-jobs/#19005_92051 Too many organisations still place people in management jobs because they, know the 'business' know the product, know the organisation, know the market. They are expected to have natural, inbuilt skills for managing, leading and motivating people. Most managers 'muddle' along and sadly, some don't have what it takes. Still; it keeps me in a job! Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:05:16 GMT http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/11/22/managers-a-barrier-to-good-jobs/#19005_92051 2009-11-23T11:05:16Z http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/11/03/usocial-eyeballs-for-sale/#18336_92040 Hi Tim<br>Certainly does -- did uSocial offer to rectify the issue or did you just decide to leave well alone? It'd be interesting to find out more about how much benefit you've gained from using Facebook generally, too. Let me know if you want to talk more about your business. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:19:10 GMT http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/11/03/usocial-eyeballs-for-sale/#18336_92040 2009-11-23T09:19:10Z http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/11/17/7-mantras-for-maveric-entrepreneurs/#18969_91992 i'm gonna be the next one to worship!, watch out for me,.....!! Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:34:02 GMT http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/11/17/7-mantras-for-maveric-entrepreneurs/#18969_91992 2009-11-22T17:34:02Z http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/11/03/usocial-eyeballs-for-sale/#18336_91656 Hi there,<br><br>We are a British company that used usocial.net to buy 1000 ?fans? for a newly created Facebook page (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/skiingholidays1">I Love Skiing</a>)<br>for around ~?120, more out of curiosity than anything. Due to the nature of the Facebook page I wasn't concerned about being duplicitous, after all, I didn't expect anyone to be coerced into joining a fansite that they were disinterested in.<br><br>The campaign was superficially successful, with a large influx of fans joining. However, despite telling usocial.net that we are UK based and wished to have UK based fans (which they ask for), the fans we gained were all American. So while we gained pure numbers, we diminished our relevance and simply wish we hadn?t bothered. <br><br>I hope this helps.<br>Tim<br><a href="http://www.SkiingHolidays.com">Skiing Holidays Ltd</a> Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:38:45 GMT http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/11/03/usocial-eyeballs-for-sale/#18336_91656 2009-11-20T10:38:45Z http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/11/17/gates-and-buffetts-advice-for-entrepreneurs/#18821_91463 Sincere apologies to the earlier readers who clicked on the CNBC link to watch the video and got sent to the wrong site. My mistake. The link has now been fixed and points to the correct page on CNBC. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:18:39 GMT http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/11/17/gates-and-buffetts-advice-for-entrepreneurs/#18821_91463 2009-11-19T15:18:39Z http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/11/17/gates-and-buffetts-advice-for-entrepreneurs/#18821_91344 I agree entirely about the importance of passion. I was a high earner for a global consulting company and really enjoyed what i was doing, but not the organisation or its values and behaviours. I found myself doing things for clients despite the way i was rewarded and driven by the firm. So I quit and went off to make a difference in my own way, and now have a successful book (alliance brand), a well thought of little company in its space (alliantist) with a great team and a super software solution that equips people to get their jobs done well themselves, without the need for armies of consultants who leave the client no better off. Still a long way behind Buffet and Gates but I now sleep at night (when I am not working) and love every moment. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:34:40 GMT http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/11/17/gates-and-buffetts-advice-for-entrepreneurs/#18821_91344 2009-11-18T20:34:40Z http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/11/17/gates-and-buffetts-advice-for-entrepreneurs/#18821_91210 This couldn't be more true. I left a career in banking to start up a translation and localisation agency because I was passionate about the different this service could make to multinational companies. I've surrounded myself with other language enthusiasts and we have built a very successful business in a relatively short period of time. Passion is almost a prerequisite for success! <br>Gary Muddyman<br>www.conversisglobal.com Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:45:31 GMT http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/11/17/gates-and-buffetts-advice-for-entrepreneurs/#18821_91210 2009-11-18T10:45:31Z http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/07/30/poor-generation-y-me/#15096_90716 Just remember that most things just don't really stay the same. We can't see what lies out there in regard to technology and the impact of innovation. As a baby-boomer I remember that there were a good many of my generation exhibiting characteristics similar to the Gen Y crew. Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:50:26 GMT http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/07/30/poor-generation-y-me/#15096_90716 2009-11-15T13:50:26Z http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/08/28/how-to-wear-the-white-shirt/#16037_90310 Hi, you raised a very useful points for the employees and office associates. I am working in a multinational e-comm business company, I wear white shirts for office but not more than 1 day in a week. I faced the major problem with white shirt is, you can't protect white shirts with dust or other things but under the black jacket i always wear white shirt. I bought some <a title="Italian Dress Shirts" href=http://it.countrysearch.tradekey.com/dress-shirts.htm rel="dofollow">Italian Dress Shirts</a> for office in them 2 shirts are white. Thanks for sharing the valuable topic, Thanks again Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:13:19 GMT http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/08/28/how-to-wear-the-white-shirt/#16037_90310 2009-11-12T08:13:19Z http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/11/04/dont-sugar-coat-it-are-small-businesses-moaners/#18506_89607 Of course he's right. Have you seen some of these business plans? Have you seen some of these businesses? <br><br>Since when was there a God given right to a bank loan? Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:18:53 GMT http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/11/04/dont-sugar-coat-it-are-small-businesses-moaners/#18506_89607 2009-11-07T22:18:53Z http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/11/03/usocial-eyeballs-for-sale/#18336_89119 one thing for sure...for a marketing company that claims to be on the cutting edge of technology, their webiste is low-tech and boring..and the weirdest thing of all, is that they don't even have a company facebook site setup! You'd think that they would lead by example! Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:58:38 GMT http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/11/03/usocial-eyeballs-for-sale/#18336_89119 2009-11-05T14:58:38Z http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/11/03/talk-to-the-hand-global-body-language-no-nos/#18359_88924 If you stand on a coin to stop it rolling away in Thailand, you could be jailed for standing on the portrait of the King. Thai people are extremely sensitive to having the sole of feet pointed at them.<br><br>When given a business card in Japan, you are supposed to study it (admire it even), just pocketing it without doing so is considered rude. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:34:11 GMT http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/11/03/talk-to-the-hand-global-body-language-no-nos/#18359_88924 2009-11-04T14:34:11Z http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/11/02/does-britain-lack-leadership-talent/#18365_88911 Perhaps we need to understand the reasons for some of the appointments that you mention. Generally European Management is more pluralist in style than ours in the UK because of important differences in how organizations are constituted, - two tier boards with workers representatives for example. Corus fell foul of that one after the merger when Hoogovens, the Dutch side of the company, were asked to sell off their Aluminium division by the CEO from the old British Steel; - they refused because whilst it might help the old BS pay its redundancy package in the short term, in the long term it was not good for the Dutch side! BP's appointment may thus be based upon the need for a European Management style that is less autocratic; as Hofstede noted back in the 80's, Sweden scores lower on the Masculinity index (to do with cultural attitude to society, not with how 'manly' the men are!) than the UK or USA and thus would be naturally more pluralist.<br><br>However, Cadbury and Lloyds could be looking for a more forceful hand at the helm in which case a more autocratic Anglo-Saxon (and Celtic!) leadership style may be being sought; and American managers have tended to epitomise this style in recent years as we have tried to adopt a more pluralist style in the wake of new EU employment law.<br><br>It's horses for courses, organizations require different styles of leadership at different times; you don't want a pluralist form when a turnaround strategy is called for, - there simply isn't the time when the whole place is 'going to hell in a hand-basket'!<br><br>Best regards,<br><br>Mike Cudzich-Madry<br>Senior Lecturer in Strategy<br>Sheffield Business School Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:49:07 GMT http://blogs.bnet.co.uk/sterling-performance/2009/11/02/does-britain-lack-leadership-talent/#18365_88911 2009-11-04T12:49:07Z